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Nikon Coolpix 5400 A solid update to Nikon's upper-midrange Coolpix. 5 megapixels, 4x zoom, tons of features! Select a topic Reference: Datasheet C5400 Sample Images --------------------------------- 1. Intro and Highlights 2. Executive Overview 3. Design 4. Viewfinder 5. Optics 6. Exposure & Flash 7. Shutter Lag & Cycle Time Tests 8. Operation & User Interface 9. Camera Modes & Menus 10. Image Storage & Interface 11. Video, Power, Software 12. Test Results & Conclusion --------------------------------- Print-Friendly Review Version Additional Resources and Other Links Reader Comments on C5400 Review --------------------------------- Digital Camera Comparometer (TM) --------------------------------- <-- Digital Cameras (Home) <-- Digital Camera Reviews Index <<Executive Overview :(Previous) | (Next): Viewfinder>> Page 3:Design Review First Posted: 07/12/2003

Design

Updating the popular Coolpix 5000 model, which was itself a significant departure from the swivel-case designs of earlier high-end Coolpix models, the Coolpix 5400 offers similar rangefinder styling with a slightly enhanced feature set. Like the Coolpix 5000, the Coolpix 5400 uses a "Vari-angle" LCD design that retains (and some would say improves) the viewing flexibility formerly provided by the swivel body. The Coolpix 5400 measures 4.3 x 2.9 x 2.7 inches (108 x 73 x 69 millimeters), which is just a bit bulky, but still compact enough for a medium-sized purse or a backpack. It has a pleasant heft at 13.4 ounces (380 grams), with the battery and memory card installed. A neck/shoulder strap comes with the camera, to make toting it a little more convenient, but I'd recommend a good camera case for any extended travel.

Visible on the Coolpix 5400's front panel are the large flash tube, a small flash exposure sensor, the window for the optical viewfinder, and the lens. The telescoping lens extends another half-inch from the camera body when in its fully extended position, and retracts just inside the larger lens barrel when the camera is powered off. The larger lens barrel is threaded to accept Nikon accessory lenses. A plastic lens cap protects the lens when not in use, and tethers to the camera body via a small strap. The large handgrip slopes downward at the top, providing a view of the Shutter button, and is covered with a rubbery material that ensures a firm grip.

The camera's right side (as viewed from the back) houses the memory card compartment (a Type I/II Compact Flash slot), an eyelet for the neck strap, and a flap that hides the external power connector. The memory card compartment features a spring action that firmly snaps the door shut, and opens from the rear panel. The DC-In terminal is covered by a flexible flap that remains attached to the camera when opened.

The left side of the camera features the other neckstrap eyelet, speaker grille, and flaps covering the jacks for the audio/video and USB cables. The USB cable plugs into a jack in the top right corner of the panel, while the A/V cable plugs into the lower left corner. From this view, you can also see the large hinge of the swiveling LCD monitor.

The top of the camera has a handful of controls, in addition to the external flash hot shoe and microphone. Controls on the top panel are the Shutter button and surrounding power switch, the Flash and +/- buttons, the Function button, Mode dial, and a Command wheel at the back rear corner. The command wheel is used in conjunction with various buttons on the body of the camera to change camera settings.

The remaining camera controls are on the Coolpix 5400's rear panel, along with the optical viewfinder and LCD monitor. The optical viewfinder eyepiece has two status LEDs on its left, showing current focus and flash status. A small adjustment dial on the right side of the eyepiece adjusts the viewfinder diopter value for eyeglass wearers. To the right of the viewfinder eyepiece are the AE/AF Lock and Zoom buttons. The Menu, AF/Erase, Quick Review/Resize, and Display buttons line the right side of the LCD monitor. To the right of these is a Four-Way Multicontroller button, which navigates menu settings, with an OK button at its center. The swiveling LCD monitor lifts up off of the back panel, and can flip around to face the front of the camera. From this position, the LCD monitor itself rotates around 270 degrees to face a variety of viewing angles. (I really like tilt/swivel LCD designs like this, as they're really handy for shooting over the heads of people in a crowd, or for getting ground-level macro shots that would be nearly impossible otherwise.)

The bottom of the Coolpix 5400 is nice and flat, with some raised rubber inserts that help the camera grip tripod mounting plates. The plastic (I wish it was metal), threaded tripod socket is slightly off-center, but provides a stable mount. Also on the bottom panel is the camera's battery compartment, with a latch in the center of the door to prevent it from accidentally opening. The battery compartment and tripod socket are unfortunately too close together to allow quick battery changes while the camera is mounted. (I'm always acutely aware of this, given how much in-studio shooting I do with the cameras I test.) However, the DC-In jack is accessible from the side, making it easy to provide alternate power while mounted on a tripod.